Startup Idea: Startup Idea: Robocall and Telemarketing Buster App

Startup idea to develop a robocall and telemarketing buster application for both cell phones and landlines. The software should allow users to black-list unwanted numbers, disconnecting calls before they reach the phone. The app must be always running and able to intercept incoming calls through the user's computer and router. The model to follow could be the one employed by phonetray.com, which offers both free and professional versions of this type of service.

I am a retired programmer analyst who started out in 1974 coding in machine assembly language on a "computer" that was the size of 3 refrigerators and had the memory capacity of a 1990's calculator. I migrated through many industries, have 16 certifications in a variety of mainframe, mini, pc and server programming languages, and have both coded and project lead software for industries ranging from private industry fuel cell builds and precision gear rotations to health insurance application installs and data mining for investigation of fraudulent claims to by medical community to creating a language to be read and understood by the early phototypesetting camera equipment to gov't applications (everything from tax bills to police payroll).

My cell phone gets 1 to 3 unwanted calls a day, my land line about a half dozen a week. This is (was) a major pain point in my life, and yes both my phones are on the do not call list.

So it astonishes me that nobody in the USA has been able to come up with a robocall / telemarketing buster for both cell phones and landlines (or either one!). Happily for me, though, I found a Canadian application that does it ALL. Very intuitive user interface, they offer both a free and pro version. I used the pro version for a few years until I had built up a sufficient black list of my own. The pro application allows you access to a massive blacklist of theirs.

How this application works is you install it on your computer (which must be on at all times for the app to be successful.) The landline is then connected to my router (which is both wireless & DSL). The configuration must be wired such that the direction of the incoming call routes through the computer before the physical phone device. When the application is exectuted, it runs in background. Incoming calls that are on the black list (Pro's or your own) get disconnected before they reach your phone. (Though occasionally I do get a single ring on a phone, but then it stops).

And just for grins, it has specific recorded messages you can play to the incoming caller like the usual telephone error messages, and "You SHALL NOT PASS". But I don't use these as most incoming calls don't have a human on the end to hear them anyway.

So if our neighbors to the north found a software solution (that actually works in the USA), why can't anyone in the USA develop an even better one??

Check them out: http://phonetray.com.